In a mostly stress-free game for Notre Dame nation, the No. 12 Fighting Irish downed longtime rival No.24 Navy 51-14 on Saturday. The typically slow-starting Irish came out firing at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Notre Dame scored on its opening drive of the game and never looked back. In a must-win game for both ranked teams, Notre Dame kept its playoff hopes alive thanks to a dominating and opportunistic defense and an efficient offense. With the much-needed win, Notre Dame improved its all-time series record against Navy to 83-13-1. The Irish have won the last seven meetings against the Midshipman. It also extends the Irish’s winning streak to six, the longest under head coach Marcus Freeman.
“They’re (Navy) a good offense, a good team,” Freeman said on ABC post-game. “They’re efficient, but our guys played well and played hard. Consistency is a sign of a great team. We’ve got to continue to be more consistent and continue to elevate. It’s a challenge to elevate. You have to practice hard and prepare hard. This group is resilient. They want to be better. They’ll continue to prepare the right way. We have to continue to stay in the moment, win the moment. That’s what is important. I’m pleased that we get to celebrate some team glory here.”
A Lot of Love
Sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love continues to impress. A revelation for the Notre Dame offense this season, Love can be counted on to deliver explosive runs every Saturday. His uncanny ability to break tackles and accelerate through the line of scrimmage has made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He tallied 102 yards on 12 carries with a pair of touchdowns against the Midshipmen. Love has now scored in all eight games this season. On Saturday, he became the first Notre Dame player since Dexter Williams in 2019 to have a 100-plus yard rushing game against Navy. Love scored on runs of 64 yards and two yards.
“Jeremiyah has the potential to create a big play every time he has the ball in his hands,” Freeman said at his post-game press conference. “That is what you saw today. Jeremiyah Love being Jeremiyah Love.”
Riley’s Rise Continues for Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s offense continues to round into form at the right time. Quarterback Riley Leonard demonstrates improved pocket awareness while extending drives with his legs. Against Navy, Leonard ran for a touchdown—his 11th rushing touchdown of the season—and threw for two more scores, including a 37-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Beaux Collins in the third quarter. Leonard completed 13-of-21 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns in this contest. He added 83 yards on the ground on 10 carries with a touchdown. His longest run of the day went for 24 yards. Jordan Faison was Leonard’s favorite target. Faison caught four passes on five targets for 52 yards to pace the Irish receivers. Leonard spread the ball around effectively, completing passes to nine different receivers.
“What you are seeing is a reflection of Coach (Mike) Denbrock with our quarterbacks and with Riley and the growth of that relationship,” Freeman said after this win. “There is a trust between the quarterback and wideouts that is continuing to grow. And Riley is throwing the ball with confidence.”
For the game, the Irish amassed 466 yards of total offense. Navy generated 310 yards. Notre Dame rushed for 265 yards to Navy’s 222 yards on the ground. Leonard and Steve Angeli, who played the fourth quarter, combined for 201 yards passing. Navy threw for just 88 yards.
Navy Miscues Costly
The mistakes started early for Navy, a team in search of a signature win. The miscues piled up over four quarters. All told, Notre Dame scored four touchdowns off six Navy turnovers. The error-prone Midshipmen had not fumbled all season. On Saturday, Navy uncharacteristically lost five fumbles, essentially fumbling away any chances of registering an upset or even keeping the game contentious.
Navy quarterback Blake Horvath was enjoying an outstanding season heading into Saturday’s game. But the stout and athletic Notre Dame defense proved too much for Horvath and the Midshipmen to overcome. Horvath still flashed. He rumbled into the end zone virtually untouched for a 47-yard touchdown scamper in the first half. In the third quarter, he broke loose again, this time for 60 yards deep into Irish territory. For the game, Horvath rushed for 129 yards on 14 carries. He completed seven-of-13 passes for 88 yards and he threw one interception.
The Notre Dame defense held the tricky Navy triple-option offense in check. Al Golden’s unit limited the nation’s fourth-leading scoring offense (44.8 points per game entering the game) to just two touchdowns. One thing is certain: Navy’s run-first offense is not designed for comebacks. Senior linebacker Jack Kiser and sophomore linebacker Jaylen Sneed led the way for the Irish with nine tackles each. Adon Shuler and Junior Tuihalamaka hit career bests. Both had seven stops in the win.
“In the past, you needed a complete defense playing a triple-option team,” Freeman said about Navy. “But when they get into the gun, it’s similar to what we see week in and week out. We had to have the ability with the same personnel to play the triple-option defense and when they went to the gun to play some of the normal defense we have had. Coach Golden had a wonderful game plan.”
Looking Ahead
In knocking off the previously unbeaten Midshipmen, Notre Dame enters its second bye week of the season with another convincing victory over a ranked team. The Irish also own victories over then No. 20 Texas A&M in Week 1 and then No. 15 Louisville in Week 5.
After scoring at least 30 points in four straight games—all wins—the Irish now turn their attention to the underachieving Florida State Seminoles who visit South Bend on Nov. 9. With the momentum of their recent victories following the shocking loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2, the Fighting Irish face elimination games the rest of the way. Poised to close out the remainder of the season on a strong note, the Irish are establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Despite the recent strong showings, Notre Dame needs to win out to secure a berth in the College Football Playoff. The only ranked team remaining on the schedule is No. 23 Army in New York on Nov. 23. The only true road game left on the Irish’s schedule is USC on Nov. 20.
